Most Certified Best Water Purifiers in India | 2020 Expert Guide

It’s a must to drink fresh water every day as it’s the source of life. Doctors recommend using a water filter to get pure water safe for human health. We have reviewed the best water purifiers available online in India to help you choose the right model!

A good water filter can effectively remove impurities, bacteria, and chemicals in your water to ensure that it is clean and safe for drinking. 

While some of us are very lucky that our municipality or corporation maintains our water system well, the truth is still chlorine present in the water and dirt in the pipes. Hence, it is much safer to get your water filtered (or at least boiled) before drinking, especially for younger children. Even though boiling with a kettle can remove bacteria in your water, it cannot remove the chemicals or odour in your water.  A water filter, on the other hand, can remove all of the above.

In this post of Smartlist.in, let us review Best Water Purifiers & Water Filters available online in India.

List of Best Water Purifiers in India

Detailed Review of Best Water Purifier of All Types in India

 Here are the best water filters and purifiers that you can find online in India today. These water purifiers are picked according to reviews on Amazon and Flipkart, among other review sites.

1. Eureka Forbes Aquasure Water Purifier from Aquaguard

👉 The purifier weighs about 5 kgs which is fair enough for an appliance with a 6-litre tank. The build and design of the purifier are pretty good. The purifier works through the six stage process silently without causing any considerable noise. The auto shut/off feature is impressive, saves a lot of electricity.

The only drawback would be with the filter change. There is no indicator that signifies the need to change the filter. One has to be aware of the time of usage and change them accordingly. Other than that, it’s a solid product!

A trusted brand over 35 years, Eureka Forbes has been successful in making its way into every Indian household. With years of research and development to make potable water safe and reliable, Eureka Forbes presents Aquasure Smart Plus water purifier from Aquaguard.

One of their latest advancement in this sector, the Aquasure Smart Plus is powered by the universal UV+RO+MTDS technology which purifies water from different sources of supply such as borewells, tanks and taps. Working through six different stages of purification, the water purifier has the capability of providing 30 litres of clean and safe water every hour. And that’s why it is our top pick here!

• Stage 1: Water undergoes the clarity cartridge filtration process where the I-filter removes larger suspended particles such as sand and dirt from water.
• Stage 2: The chemi block filter captures excess chlorine, finer impurities, pesticides and foul odour before moving to the enhancing process in the next stage.
• Stage 3: As mentioned, the water now passes through a membrane life enhancer that prevents the scaling of calcium and magnesium salts and enhances the life and quality of the RO membrane.
• Stage 4:  The RO filtration process reduces TDS; removes infectious biological agents such as bacteria, parasites and cysts along with the traces of heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and mercury.
• Stage 5: The RO purified water now passes through the taste enhancer cartridge (post carbon filter) that polishes the water by removing organic residues and giving it a cleaner, sparkling look and taste.
• Stage 6: The last step involves UV rays disinfecting the RO water.

The smart build and superior design of the purifier make it a compact appliance that can be easily installed in any corner of the kitchen. However, the Aquasure Smart Plus comes with a large 6-litre capacity tank which gets replenished within 15 minutes once the tank is emptied. The purifier also comes with a 6000 litres smart cartridge that gives a year long carefree protection.

Smart LED indicators represent purification process, water pressure and water supply using different colours. The Smart Plus water purifier comes with an auto off feature that helps in switching off the power when the tank has reached its capacity, thus, saving energy.The smart TDS regulator reduces up to 90% of dissolved salts to provide you with clean and safe water. The purifier holds the capacity to deal with upto 2000 TDS level and as it has a manual regulator you can set the TDS level according to the water supply in your area

The purifier does not need a stabilizer as it holds the capacity to protect itself from damages during voltage fluctuations. The operating input voltage required for the Smart Plus purifier is between 150-270V.

Salient Features

• Six stage advanced RO+UV+MTDS purification
• Manual TDS level controller
• 6-litre tank capacity
• Smart energy saving feature
• Smart LED indicators
• Protection against voltage fluctuations (150-270V)
• Comes with a one-year warranty
• Suitable for varied water supply sources with upto 2000 TDS level

Pros: Good things

• Energy saving mode
• One-year warranty
• LED indicators
• Quick replenishment of the tank
• MTDS technology
• Decent price
• Handles voltage fluctuations
• Auto shut off feature

Cons: Poor things

• No filter change indicator

2. Kent Grand 8-litres Wall Mountable RO+UV/UF+TDS Water Purifier

👉 The wall mounting aspect helps in saving some space in the kitchen. The product weighs around 10 kgs. The water purification and replenishing cycles are pretty quick and silent.

The purifier works best towards purifying the most brackish water available on taps and tankers. The installation of the product is easy and free. They even have a 10 day return policy in case of any problem with the product. Much like our top pick, the filter change and UV fail to indicate calls for low maintenance. Though this one is much more expensive than our topper!

One of the highly regarded brands and design when it comes to water purifiers in India, Kent Grand with RO+UV/UF+TDS technologies is an elegant, fully automatic, wall mountable purifier.

This stylish purifier has an inbuilt TDS control system that works for water with upto 2000 ppm TDS level. The extensive multi stage purification system involves RO and a combination of 11 watt UV and UF lamps to give you the most pristine and clear water. The extensive double purification technology of the Kent Grand is ideal for municipal corporation water supply and tankers. The RO+TDS technology of the purifier is superior as it can cleanse the most brackish tap water.Kent Grand works on a patented mineral RO technology to provide clean and tasty water. This along with the UV/UF and TDS control technologies, the purifier removes most of the dissolved impurities, microorganisms, salts and heavy metals. The computer controlled operations even provide a filter change alarm and a UV fail alarm to enhance the longevity of the purifier.

The purifier has a high water storage capacity with an 8-litre tank that fills up quickly once it is emptied. One can be assured to get 15 litres of double purified water every hour. The tank and the overall design of the purifier is built using ABS food grade plastic to safeguard the purity and quality of the purified water. Its push-fit design leaves no course for leakage.

Salient Features

• High storage capacity tank (8 litres)
• Patented mineral RO technology
• UV/UF+TDS controller
• Suitable for brackish tap water and municipal water supply
• Filter change alarm + UV fail alarm
• ABS food grade plastic build
• 1-year warranty + 3 years free service

Pros: Good things

• Easy and free installation
• Comes with 1-year warranty + 3 years free service
• Multi stage purification with patented mineral RO+UV/UF+TDS technology
• 8-litre water tank
• Filter change alarm + UV fail alarm

Cons: Poor things

• Expensive
• Not so impressive design

3. Blue Star Aristo RO+UV 7-litre Water Purifier

👉 With trendy build and features, the Blue Star Aristo water purifier checks everything on the list that is required for a decent performance. Its purification system is impressive with additional ATB, copper impregnated carbon balls and fine filters. On the downside, their customer service is not that great.

Blue Star water purifier comes with some impressive features and an attractive design to provide clean and safe water. This budget-friendly purifier goes through a six stage purification to extract dissolved salts, organic impurities, biological entities, heavy metals and radiological hazards. It deserves the third spot in our list thanks to an all round performance in terms of purification, features and design.Following the double layered RO+UV filtration processes, the Aqua Taste Booster (ATB) feature ensures that the optimum pH level of water is maintained and the taste is enhanced through its calcite media.

The stylish and elegant design of the purifier manages to get every attention in the room. The Blue Star Aristo purifier is available in two colours (black & white) as of now. It is built with a 7-litre water storage tank that is quite sufficient for a nuclear family as the water gets replenished accordingly. The product offers many useful indicators as well such as purification on, tank full, UV fail alarm and low water pressure alarm. A child lock option is available on the tap to avoid any kind of leakage and wastage of water.

The six stage purification system involves pre-sedimentation, pre-carbon filtration, sedimentation, reverse osmosis, post-carbon filtration with ATB and UV disinfection. The copper impregnated carbon balls effectively remove the foul odour from the water by extracting the organic impurities. The sediment filter is also made up of the finest filter (5 microns) to ensure total extraction of impurities. The water purifying can process up to 12 litres of water per hour.

Salient Features

• RO+UV purification technology
• 7-litre water tank
• Can purify up to 12 litres/hour
• Child lock feature
• Six stage purification
• Aqua taste booster
• UV fail alarm
• 1 year warranty

Pros: Good things

• Value for money
• Child safety lock
• Good build
• UV lamp fail indicator
• Removable tank
• Aqua taste booster
• Six stage purification

Cons: Poor things

• Constant supply of electricity needed
• Absence of UF membrane
• Water wastage during purification

4. Havells Max 7-litre RO Water Purifier

👉 Budget-friendly and consumer friendly design! The removable tank and soft touch faucet works well at a home with too many people. The purification capacity of the tank is about 15 litres per hour and that is sufficient for an average family of 3-4 members. The quality and efficiency of the purifier is commendable.

Havells Max stands apart for its unique design and convenience. This portable RO purifier can be used as a table top appliance or can be mounted on the wall. Unlike other purifiers, Havells Max comes with a unique faucet design to ensure zero splashing, zero contamination and zero damage to the outflow unit.

Its powerful 7-stage purification involves unique processes to make water safe and tasty to drink.

• Sedimentation : Removal of suspended particles such as dirt, sand, rust and other physical impurities. This process plays an important role in improving the shelf-life of the activated carbon cartridge and RO membrane.
• Activated carbon filtration: Activated carbon is known for the removal of foul odour, chemicals and dissolved organic impurities such as pesticides and herbicides.
• Reverse Osmosis: Heavy metal residues such as mercury, lead, arsenic and fluorides are removed by the RO membrane.
• UV disinfection: The germicidal UV lamp works at 253.7nm wavelength to keep the water free from microbial impurities.
• Mineralization: The mineral cartridge maintains the pH balance of the purified water by adding essential minerals and salts to it.
• Taste enhancement: The silver impregnated taste enhancer removes volatile organic compounds and improves the taste of the purified water.
• Revitalization: The revitalizer cartridge restructures water to make it biologically active.

The revitalizer cartridge improves the hydration capacity of water and facilitates the enhancement of mineral absorption by the body. The iProtect purification monitor ensures that the process shuts off automatically whenever an internal fault/damage is detected.

The Havells max purifier works perfectly even during voltage fluctuations without causing any damage to the product. The purifier trips only when the voltage moves on the either side of the scale i.e, 170-330V. The 7-litre water tank is designed with an ingress protection cover that makes sure the water stored is free from any external contamination. The tank is removable as well for cleaning and maintenance. The product comes with the essential indicator such as purification, error and tank full indicators.

Salient Features

• RO+UV purification technology
• Seven stage purification with special functions
• 7-litre water tank
• iProtect purification monitor
• Mineral cartridge + revitalizer cartridge
• Soft touch faucet
• Smart indicators

Pros: Good things

• Compact design with soft touch faucet
• Advanced purification features
• Mineral cartridge and revitalizer cartridge
• Smart indicators
• Removable tank

Cons: Poor things

• Tackles water with very low TDS level
• The mineral filter needs to be changed every six months

5. R.K Aquafresh India 15-litres RO+UV+UF+TDS Adjuster Water Purifier

👉 Low priced product with high efficiency. It surprisingly works well with borewell water and offers a very value for money performance. However, installation and maintenance might cause a dent in the pocket.

A made in India product that has been gaining prominence in the field of UV water purification technology! R.K. Aquafresh meets all the certification standards and presents this 15-litre RO+UV+UF+TDS water purifier.

The adjuster technology helps in removing microbial residues, traces of heavy metals, chemicals and other impurities.This water purifier claims the highest purification capacity in the market. But going by the price, it is not as good as, say our leaders in this list. The purification is fair and can easily suffice normal usage.

The attractive and compact design of the product makes it an ideal appliance to fit in a small kitchen. The reverse osmosis process followed by UV disinfection gives you a safe and clean water to drink. The highly functioning cartridge helps in removing sediments and dissolved impurities. However, it needs to be changed periodically.

Salient Features

• RO+UV+UF+TDS purification technology
• High purification capacity
• Replaceable cartridge
• One-year warranty
• Push-fit design to prevent leakage

Pros: Good things

• RO+UV+UF+TDS purification technology
• Push-fit design to prevent leakage
• One-year warranty
• Works well with high TDS level water

Cons: Poor things

• Uninterrupted power supply necessary
• Poor build quality
• Bad customer service

6. Livpure Glo 7-litre RO+UV Mineralizer Water Purifier

👉 Though it has a simple build, the purifier is compact and serves well for the price paid. The purifier succeeds in providing clean, odourless and tasty water. Although one has to buy the sediment filter separately.

The house of Luminous has struck gold in the market involving water purifiers with Livpure Glo. The simple yet attractive design, price and smart features are some of the reasons Livpure Glo has been one of the leading suppliers of pure and healthy water in India.

The purification capacity of the tank is 12 litres/hour. Livpure Glo works through an extensive six stage purification process to provide you with clean and safe drinking water.

The stages of purification involved are as follows:

• Sedimentation: With water sources such as borewell, taps and tankers in India, water is prone to contamination. The sedimentation process deals with the removal of physical impurities such as dust, dirt, sand, and silt. However, one has to buy the sediment filter separately as it not included in the product package.
• Pre-activated carbon filtration/absorption: Activated carbon is known for the removal of foul odour, undesired colour, chemicals and dissolved organic impurities such as pesticides and herbicides.
• Reverse Osmosis: Heavy metal residues such as mercury, lead, arsenic and fluorides are removed by the RO membrane. This method also tackles the hardness of water.
• UV disinfection: The UV lamp removes microbial entities present in the water such as bacteria, parasites, protozoa, and cysts.
• Post-carbon filtration: The silver impregnated post carbon filter is a taste enhancer that removes volatile organic compounds and improves the taste of the purified water.
• Mineralization: The mineralizer cartridge ensures that the pH balance of water is maintained. It also works towards retaining essential minerals making water healthier to drink.

The 7-litre tank is made up of food grade plastic to keep the stored water safe and free of contamination. The quality and durability of the product is impressive. The purifier can tackle water with up to 1500 ppm TDS level.

Salient Features

• RO+UV mineralizer Six stage purification process
• 7-litre water storage capacity
• Tank full indicator
• One-year warranty
• Purification capacity is 12 litres/hour

Pros: Good things

• Comes with a one-year warranty
• Value for money
• Full tank indicator
• Large 7-litre tank
• Good purification capacity
• Lightweight

Cons: Poor things

• Installation is not easy
• No filter change alert

7. HUL Pureit Advanced RO+MF 6 Stage 5-litre Water Purifier

👉 Pureit RO purifier is a good buy within a pocket-friendly budget. The 5-litre tank is quite sufficient for a small nuclear family. The innovative design of the product adds to the decor of the kitchen. Free installation and good customer service from Hindustan Unilever!

One of the leading advanced water purifiers in the world, the Hindustan Unilever Pureit water purifier stands apart for its innovative design and progressive features. The engineering grade plastic body of the purifier makes it durable and stylish. It also ensures that the quality of the purified water is maintained and keeps it free from contamination. The break resistant tap is a feather to the cap.

The 5-litre tank has a purification capacity of 9-12 litres/hour. With continuous water and power supply, the tank is quickly replenished aided by the auto shut off feature in order to save water from overflowing, leakage and wastage.The TDS controller works best at reducing 90% of dissolved solids in water with up to 1800 ppm TDS. It also comes with an advanced voltage fluctuation guards that prevents possible damage of the product.

The six stage purification process purifies water from varied supply source such as borewell, tap water and tankers. The processes include pre-sedimentation, pre-RO carbon filtration, post-carbon sedimentation, reverse osmosis, microfiltration, and post-carbon filtration.  The RO+UV micro filtration technology removes harmful chemicals and microbial residues from the water making it healthier.

Salient Features

• Stylish and compact design
• 5-litre water tank
• Six stage RO+UV MF purification technology
• Advanced voltage fluctuation guard (165-280V)
• Break resistant tap
• One-year warranty

Pros: Good things

• Comes with a one-year warranty
• Stylish and innovative design
• Pocket-friendly price
• Advanced voltage fluctuation guard
• Auto shut off feature
• TDS controller for up to 1800 ppm
• Break resistant tap

Cons: Poor things

• Lacks necessary indicators

8. Ruby RO with Auto Flush and Display Water Purifier

👉 Ruby RO+UV water purifier provides advanced purification system on a low budget. The LED displays of various indicators make it easier to keep tabs on the health of the product. However, frequent changes of filters are required if water with higher TDS level is used.

One of the best RO+UV purifier available in the market for a nominal price! The Ruby purifier comes with a unique auto flush feature that helps in removing deposits and microbial entities. The auto flushing process occurs every 15 minutes enhancing the shelf life and quality of the RO membrane.The digital RO controller displays every function and fault of the RO membrane and process. The computerized controller flushes the RO membrane every 15 minutes to enhance its longevity. The purifier auto shuts off when the membrane gets blocked.

The six stage RO+UV+Alkaline purification process includes

• Pre-filtration: The 5 micron sediment filter removes physical impurities such as dust, sand and silt.
• Sedimentation: This is more of an advanced stage of micro filtration. The sediment filter here holds a dimension of 1 micron which effectively removes the finest dust particles.
• Activated carbon filtration: The activated carbon tackles the chemicals present in the water. It also handles the taste, colour and odour of the water.
• Reverse Osmosis: The RO membrane removes heavy metal contaminants such as arsenic, lead, mercury, fluoride and pesticides.
• Alkaline filtration: The alkaline filter maintains the pH balance of the purified water. It also helps in reconstructing the molecules with essential minerals making the water tasty and healthy.
• UV disinfection:  UV lamp destroys the presence of microorganisms in the water.

Salient Features

• Six stage RO+UV alkaline purification technology
• Purification capacity is 12 litres per hour
• Digital display of controls
• Auto flush feature
• One-year warranty

Pros: Good things

• Low price
• Purification capacity
• Essential LED indicators
• Auto flush feature

Cons: Poor things

• Poor customer service.

9. AO Smith Z8 10-litre RO Series Water Purifier

👉 The most innovative and advanced product in the segment! The attractive design of the purifier catches everyone’s eye. It comes with dual faucets for smooth flow of hot water. The purifier has a higher shelf-life of RO membrane and filters. The coil does not burn even after excessive use.

This state of the art water purifier is quite a stunner when it comes to appearance and performance. The green series purifier purifies 100% of the water input and also saves 2x the amount of waste water produced by other RO purifiers. This is a very unique trait and thus it is in our list.The water purifier comes with a soon to be patented Advance Recovery Technology (ART). The purifier undergoes eight stage purification process to provide the healthiest water. It also has a hot water feature that dispenses water at 45℃ and 80℃ too.

The innovative eight step purification includes a pre-filter, sediment filter, carbon block with ART, patented side stream reverse osmosis, mineralizer filter and ZX double protection dual filter. It can be noted that the input water passes through the RO membrane and double protection filter (SCMT) completely.

The large storage tank has the capacity of holding 10-litres of water at once. The A.O.Smith green series purifier is suitable for large Indian families and to those who experience frequent power cuts. The silver charged membrane technology (SCMT) safeguards the water from secondary contamination. The mineralizer filter restructures the water molecules by adding essential minerals to the water making it tasty and healthy to drink.

Salient Features

• 8 stage purification
• Large 10-litre tank
• Advance recovery technology
• Dual double protection filters (SCMT+SAPC)
• Easy access to hot water
• Night assist feature
• One-year warranty

Pros: Good things

• Child lock feature
• Hot water dispense
• Double purification
• Easy installation and one year warranty
• Night assist feature
• Faster flow rate
• Purification capacity is 15 litres/hour

Cons: Poor things

• Expensive
• Heavy
• Produces considerable amount of noise

10. Tata Swach Non-Electric Cristella Plus 18-litre Gravity Water Purifier

👉 The best non-electric gravity based filter available in the market. High water storage capacity makes it ideal for larger families or office lobbies. It requires very low maintenance.

This non-electric gravity based water purifier is a tough competitor to the advanced RO technology purifiers. The stylish design of Cristela plus holds water upto 18 litres. Top food grade plastic is used to build this attractive filter. The scratch resistant, sturdy body of the purifier also comes with a water level indicator and a high quality 2-way dispenser tap.

The silver nanotechnology of the purifier removes around 100 crore bacteria or 1 million viruses from 1 litre of water. The auto shut-off feature works well during the replenishment process. The filter cartridges need to be changed periodically for cleaner filtration of water. But each cartridge has a long lifespan as it can filter around 3000 litres of water.

The Cristela Plus filter does not need any installation. It’s easy to clean and maintain, easy to assemble and also comes with a 6-month warranty.

Salient Features

• Silver nanotechnology for purification
• Non-electric
• Water-level indicator
• Auto shut-off feature
• 18-litre storage capacity
• Scratch resistant food grade plastic

Pros: Good things

• Auto shut-off
• Easy assembly and maintenance
• Water level indicator
• High storage capacity
• 2-way tap dispenser

Cons: Poor things

• Unsuitable for high TDS level water

11. HUL Pureit Classic 23L Water Purifier

👉 The most sought-after water purifier that serves a larger pool of people without having to replenish the tank frequently! The price is also pocket-friendly. The patented technology works impeccably in giving out a clean, safe and odourless water.

With eye-catchy design and advanced indicators, the HUL Pureit is a highly reliable gravity based water filter. The filter is easy to install and maintain as it does not require any electricity, constant water supply or gas. This classic filter is most suitable for the municipal water supply.The purifier undergoes multi stage purification mechanism such as activated carbon trap, germkill technology and carbon polishing. The purifier holds the capacity of getting rid of about 1 crore viruses per litre of water.

It has the purification capacity of 1500 litre/hr. The storage tank is about 23 litres with auto-shut feature and break resistant tap. It does come with a water level indicator and germkill life indicator for the times it needs to be changed. Non-toxic, food grade material build meets all the USEPA requirements.

Pureit makes sure that the water undergoes four stages of purification.

• Water passes through the microfiber mesh where sedimented particles and suspended solids are captured.
• The activated carbon trap captures soluble impurities and foul odour.
• The patented germkill kit successfully kills microorganisms using 100% chlorine.
• The carbon polisher then removes the chlorine residues in the water giving out safe and clean water.

Salient Features

• 4 stage purification
• Display indicators
• Patented Germkill Kit technology
• Non-electric and zero requirement of running water
• 6 months warranty
• 23-litre storage tank (including both the tanks)

Pros: Good things

• Auto shut-off
• Water level and Germkill life indicator
• Large tank capacity
• Easy to install and maintain
• Zero requirement of running water and electricity.

Cons: Poor things

• Does not work on heavy metals
• Not suitable for high TDS water.

12. Prestige Non-Electric Acrylic Water Purifier

👉 If you are under a tight budget, this gravity based filter is the right alternative for an advanced RO purifier. It has a decent storage capacity and the purification capacity is manageable. Easy to install, clean and maintain. It also comes with a one year warranty.

With its state of the art design, Prestige 2.0 comes with a total storage capacity of 18-litres. The fully transparent build comes with a easy to access tap dispenser. The purifier has an attractive design and is purely non-electric. It claims to remove bacteria and viruses effectively and has capacity of 18 ltrs.

As per our tests, it might not be a very suitable option if there is high TDS water. Other than that, being a non-electric, it is very efficient and gets the job done.

The purifier undertakes 2 stage purification process where the non-woven cloth pre filter captures suspended residues in the water. This step is followed by the FACT filtration where the cartridge removes 99.9% of bacteria, viruses and cysts.  This step also helps in removing bad odour and taste.

Salient Features

• Filtration capacity is 8 litres/hour
• The FACT cartridge works for upto 1500 litres.
• No electricity and running water required
• One year warranty

Pros: Good things

• Affordable
• Two-stage purification
• Decent performance

Cons: Poor things

• Does not work well with high TDS water.

Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose the Best Water Purifier?

Before you look for a water filter, look at your water. What sort of contaminants are in it? If it’s pretty standard stuff like chlorine, mercury, and pesticides, you can get away with a pretty basic filter like a Brita pitcher. If you’ve got more extreme stuff in your water like lead and bacteria, a reverse osmosis water filter or tap attachment might suit your needs better. 

1. What is your water source?

This is the first factor to consider while purchasing a new water purifier for your home or office. Common water sources in Indian households are…

• Municipal Corporation Supply
• Rivers
• Groundwater/Borewell
• Lake/Ponds

Water from rivers and lakes are considered as soft water. And underground water is considered as hard water as it contains high amounts of dissolved solids (TDS). Every water source has its own impurities that require different types of purification. We have mentioned the common impurities based on the water source.

2. What is the TDS levels of your water?

Checking out the TDS levels in water is the most important and primary thing to do before purchasing a water purifier. These levels let you know how contaminate the water is and which purification method technology is appropriate the option.

TDS or also referred as Total Dissolved Solids represents the concentration of dissolves contaminants present in the water. Some of the natural minerals ones are calcium, potassium, sodium, and magnesium. Dissolved salts can easily pass through a 2-micrometer or even pores without getting noticed.

An appropriate level of TDS is also necessary in the water – because if the TDS levels are low, then the taste will be terrible. On the other hand, if the TDS levels are high, then it represents impurities like lead, fluoride, arsenic, and others.

TDS levels in water can be measured using a digital TDS meter and represented in PPM (parts per million) or mg/L.

Below, we have provided a table representing acceptable TDS values of drinking water.

Digital TDS meter will let you know the amount of dissolved impurities. However, it will not tell you…

• Types of dissolved solids present
• Concentration level of each dissolved impurities

Most of the TDS levels contain harmless salts like calcium, sodium and magnesium. However, some of the dissolved solids are very harmful even if consumed in low quantities. Some of these harmful total dissolved solids are nitrates, arsenic and fluorides.

If you live in an agricultural region or industrial zone, you should be aware of the fact that the pesticide and chemical fertilizer abuse. So, there is a high chance of these contaminants entering the groundwater or river stream.

Now let’s check out types of impurities, TDS levels and which purification method is suitable for your needs.

3. Which purification technology best suits your need?

Currently in the Indian market, there are three types of water purification technologies – RO (Reverse Osmosis), UF (Ultra-Filtration) and UV (Ultra-Violet). Working mechanisms of these purification methods are different from each other with their own benefits and drawbacks. Below, we have provided a detail information on how these methods work and other information.

There are several types of contaminants present in the water. Not all water purification systems are equipped for dealing different water sources and their distinct impurities. Every purification technology has different water treating capacity. If you choose a wrong filter, then water may not be treated or filtered which will probably harm you and your family.

You should be aware of all kinds of filters available and their mechanisms before making the purchase. Check out the water source available in the market and make an informed decision.

a) Reverse Osmosis (RO)

As the name implies, this technology is the opposite of osmosis. In this process, the water will have to move from higher concentration to the lower though a semipermeable membrane. As this is against the water’s natural tendency, you may have to apply the force.

Suggested read on RO Water purifiers:
What are RO Purifiers?
Best RO water purifiers in India
Best Under Sink RO Purifiers

b) Ultra-Filtration

Similar to RO, ultrafiltration also has semi-permeable membrane for purifying the water. However, the main difference between them – UF has larger pores (0.01 microns) while RO membrane has tiny pores (0/0001 microns).

Suggested read on UF Water purifiers:
RO vs UF vs UF
TDS Level of Water
Best UF Water purifiers

c) Ultraviolet Purification

If you have to deal with bacteria and virus in water, ultraviolet purification is the right choice. This water purifier contains a UV lamp. When the water flows through the lamp it receives lethal dose of UV light (254-nm wavelength).  And this light will attack the DNA and kill them.

Suggested read on UV Water purifiers:
Best UV Water purifiers in India

d) Gravity Based Water Purifier

If you are looking for just basic purification, then gravity based water purifiers are the best option.

Suggested read:
Best Gravity Based Water purifiers in India
Best Portable water purifiers
Best water infusers
Pureit Classic Vs Kent Gold

4. What is the water flow rate?

Calculating the suitable flow rate can be tricky but important as well. If the flow rate is high, then it can result in unsuccessful purification (as it will have less time for purification). But the flow rate is very slow, then it will take a lot of time to provide just 1 liters of water – this can be very frustrating. So, you have to choose an ideal flow rate that can solve both these problems.

Flow rate or purification capacity is the quantity that is produced by water purifier in an hour. It is usually referred in terms of liters/hour. To calculate the ideal flow rate, you have to consider daily water requirement of your family.

On an average, 12 to 15 liters of capacity is suitable enough for most of the Indian households. Most of the RO purifiers provide the same capacity or flow rate. Some of the high-end models can provide capacity up to 20 liters/hour or above as well.

5. How much is the storage capacity?

The process of purification takes time. Instead of this waiting period, manufacturers have provided storage tank in most of the purifier models. This tank will collect the purified water. It is helpful for people for people who live in an area with frequent power cuts and unreliable water supply.

Most of the water purifiers come with storage tank ranging from 7 liters to 12 liters. For a family with 4 to 6 members, 6liter storage tank is suitable enough. This will ensure you have enough purified water necessary. If you have a big family or if you live in a locality where there are regular power cuts, then you should choose a model with bigger storage tank.

Important Note: Apart from certain UV purifier models, most of the other water purifier models come with a storage tank. So, you will have access to pure water all the time.

6. What is the material of tank?

As it stores the purified water, material used to make storage tank is an important consideration. Most of the purifiers come with storage tanks made up of stainless steel of ABS food-grade plastic that ensure both durability and purity. Apart from that, you should also ensure the tank come with proper sealing for avoiding any external contamination.

7. Does it come with TDS controller?

RO water purifiers can remove the almost 90% of TDS from the water source. This even includes some of the healthy salts like magnesium, calcium and others. Removing essential minerals and salts will have negative effect on your body. To resolve this issue, manufacturers have added a feature called TDS controller. This feature will check and control the level of minerals and dissolved salts present in the purified water.

8. What to do with water wastage?

Some water purifiers need large quantities of water for functioning properly. All the RO water purifiers waste almost 3 liters of water to provide 1 liter of purified water. Some models can waste up to 75 to 80% while some models can purify up to 50% of input water.

Considering global water crisis, it is important to choose RO water purifier only if it is required. If the TDS levels are less than 500 ppm, then it means water doesn’t contain any heavy metals or harmful chemicals. So, gravity-based, UV or UF water purifier would be sufficient. If RO water purifier is your choice, then we recommend to purchase it from a brand that provides models with higher water recovery ratio.

9. Does it has display indicator?

Regardless of their importance, indicators or alerts are one of the overlooked features. Most of the water purifiers present in India have LED indicators which will notify when the tank is empty/full, UV lamp fail, auto-shut off or filter replacement. These indicators will notify you timely and use the purifier wisely and effectively. It also helps you increase the shelf life of the water purifier as well.

10. How much is purifier weight?

This feature may seem insignificant to some people but it matters too. Most of the water purifiers in India weigh around 5 to 12Kgs. Models with less weight are suitable for wall mounting so don’t take any space on the kitchen platform. If water purifiers are heavy, then you have to place them on kitchen counter.

11. How good is the build, it it compact?

Build quality is very important factors in terms of shelf life and conserving purified water. The outlook appearance surely adds elegant touch to the kitchen interiors. The materials used should be easy to maintain and durable as well. Common materials used for water purifiers are aluminum and ABS. Few latest models are coming up with copper for storage tank. We recommend to avoid choosing a model with aluminum tank as they facilitate scale buildup.

12. Does it has activated carbon filter?

While purchasing a water purifier, make sure it has activated carbon or sediment filter. Activated carbon filter is capable of eliminating foul smell and volatile components. But sediment filters can remove large physical particles like dirt and dust in the water.

Having a biotron cartridge is added advantage as it will help to break down the water molecules. It lets you relish the goodness of nutrients available in the water. In the same way, mineral cartridge is also helpful as it will ensure the water contains all the essential minerals are retained in water, along with pH balance and taste. This option is usually not available along with water purifiers. You have to get it fitted on outer side of the water purifier.

If you have it, you don’t have to worry about large pollutants and visible suspended particles. In case, you are purchasing RO water purifiers, having this filter will increase the lifespan of the RO membrane. It will remove large pollutants before they even enter the purification process. If the water source is provided by municipality corporation, then you don’t have to use the filter, as it is already treated for removing impurities.

13. How easy to install?

Usually, water purifiers can be installed in two different ways. You can either place them on kitchen counter or else mount it over a wall. There are several types of water purifiers in the market, you can easily choose a model that can fit into your kitchen interiors. If your kitchen is small, then you can purchase an under the sink water purifier as it will stay hidden and doesn’t take much space.

14. Who is the manufacturer?

It is always better to choose a brand that has good reputation and comes with trustworthy quality water purifiers. Some of the top brands for water purifiers are Livepure, Kent, HUL Pureit, Eureka Forbes, Prestige and others.

15. Is it within your budget?

Similar to other purchases, price is also an important factor to consider while purchasing a new water purifier. However, it shouldn’t be your first decision. Because safety of your family is most important. So, instead of saving few thousands of rupees, we recommend to concentrate more on features and purification capacity.

Over the years, water purifiers have become cheaper. You can get best-selling branded RO water purifiers for as low as Rs. 8000. Other types of water purifiers come within this budget range or even lower.

16. How good is warranty and after-sales service?

Water purifiers need regular maintenance, so having after-sales support is very important. So, you have to make sure the brand you choose has good customer support. Apart from that, you should also look for initial warranty. Make sure the water purifier model you choose has at least 1-year warranty period. It is better to choose products or brands that come with extended warranty.

Common Questions on Water Purifiers

Over to You

In this post, we have selected some of the best water purifiers available online in India. There is no one solution that fits all. So make sure you follow the buyer’s guide to chose the best purifier for your water source and home need.

We have selected Eureka Forbes Aquasure as our top pick for various reasons mentioned earlier. Let us know which one you ended up buying and how good it is!